Roller-blotter ruler



F. M. PRIESTLEY.

ROLLER BLOTTER RULER.

No. 472,510. Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

A TTOHNEIY.

vans co., mum-mum, WASHINGTON, n. c,

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FORREST M. PRIESTLEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

RVOLLER-BLOTTER RU LER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,510, dated April 5,1892.

Application filed January 6, 1892- Serial No. 417,226.- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FORREST M. PRIESTLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Blotter Rulers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in roller-blotter rulers, its object being to provide a device of this class which shall be of simple and economical construction, reliable and durable in operation, and efficient in use.

The device consists of a shell or case having a longitudinal straight-edge on either side and partially covering two roller blotters which are pivoted in slots formed in the ends of the case, the pivots in the ends of the rollers being normally engaged by springs pressing the rollers outward or downward. By pressing upon the case the tension of these springs locks the rollers in place during the formation, of the lines by the use of the straight edges or flanges. The case is also provided at one end with an adjustable pointer, which may be regulated to correspond with the distance between thelines which are to be formed.

The invention will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in combination with the specification hereinafter given.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a top view of the improved device with the adjustable pointer extended. Fig. 2 is an underneath View of the same with the pointer drawn in. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end carrying the adjustable pointer.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the same with the outer end plate and the adjustable pointer removed. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the opposite end with the outer end plate removed. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line was, Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in detail of the adjustable pointer.

Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts or elements of the mechanism in the several views, let the numeral 5 designate the hollow case or shell centrally depressed longitudinally and exteriorly, as shown at 6, and provided with a suitable handle 7. The case 5 is interiorly concave on each side of depression 6 to conform to the shape of the rollers S 8, provided with a suitable covering 9, of blotting-paper or other material, adapted to readily absorb the ink as the device is rolled over the surface upon the lines drawn. The extremities of rollers 8 are provided with pivots 10, which are received in slots 12, formed in an interior end plate 13 at one end of the case, and in slots 12, formed in a similar end plate 13 in the opposite end of this case. Plates 13 and 13 are secured to the case in any suitable manner, as by soldering. Slots 12 are closed, as shown in Fig. 4, while slots 12 are open at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 5, the pivots being engaged on the under side by the edge of a small leaf-spring 14 to prevent the rollers from falling out of the case by gravity, but at the same time permitting their removal at pleasure. Spring 14 is centrally secured to a flange 14, formed on plate 13 between the slots 12. The free extremities of this spring engage the pivots l0 and are sufficiently yielding to permit the disengagement of the pivots from the slots by slight outward pressure on each end of the spring whenever it is desired to remove the rollers from the case, as for the purpose of renewing the blotting or absorbent covering. The pivots 10 are normally held at the bottom of slots 12 at one end of the case and in engagement with spring 14 at the opposite end by springs 15,

centrally secured to the end of the'case in any suitable manner, as shown at 15 Figs. 4 and 5. The extremities of these springs extend over the pivots 10 and hold them normally in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, but at the same time permit the rollers to be forced upwardly as the case is forced downwardly, thus locking'the rollers in position by their engagement with the brake-strips 16, secured tothe shell 5 interiorly, as shown in Fig. 6 and by dotted lines in Fig. 2. These brake-strips are preferably metal, covered with cloth or some suitable yielding material in order to increase the friction between the strips and the surface of the blottenrollers when the latter are forced upward against them.

The lower edge of the case is provided with longitudinal flanges on both sides, forming straight-edges, which are graduated for ruling purposes, as shown in Fig. 1. These flanges 17 are formed integral with the case 5 or rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner or as desired.

In one end of the case is located the adj ustable sliding pointer 18, which is held in position by a flange 19, formed on the outer end of the case. This flange is cut away, as shown in Fig. 3, to permit the required movement of the pointer, which is provided with a short hook or flange 18*,by means of which it may be adjusted as desired, the cutting away of Ilange 19 permitting the movement of the catch in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. Each end of the case may be provided with one of the pointers. In this case they should be extensible in opposite directions, since one would be used with each straight-edge or ruler, the head 18 of the pointer traveling ahead of the edge 17 with which it. is used, allowing the user to indicate in advance the point where the straight-edge is to stop or the distance between the lines. This pointer is suitably graduated, as shown in Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings, the blotting or absorbent material 9 is wound spirally upon the rollers and fastened at the ends with a little mucilage or in any other suitable manner, or the blotting-sleeves 0 may be formed integral and of suitable size to just slip upon the rollers 8.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination, with a hollow case or shell, of two rollers covered with blotting material and having their extremities pivoted in the ends of the case, which are provided with vertical slots for the pivots, and springs engaging said pivots and normally holding them in the bottom of the slots, whereby the rollers are permitted to move upward against the top of the shell or case as the latter is pressed downward, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a hollow shell or case provided with vertically slotted end plates, of two rollers covered with suitable blotting material and having their extremities provided with pivots engaging the slots in the end plates, and springs engaging the pivots above and normally holding them in the hottom of the slots, the slots in one of the end plates being open at the bottom, the pivots being retained in position by an adjustable support, permitting the rollers to be removed from the case at pleasure, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a hollow easeprovided with end plates, each plate having vertical slots, two of the slots being open at the bottom, of two rollers provided with pivots engaging the slots in the end plates, the pivots being engaged above by springs andnormally held in the bottom of two of the slots and in engagement with an adjustable retaining means suitably located with reference to the other two slots, substantially as described.

1. The combination, with a hollow shell or case provided with a longitudinal straightedge on one or both sides thereof and having end plates, each provided with two vertical slots, of two rollers having pivots located in these slots and springs engaging the pivots and normally holding them at their lowest limit of movement within the slots, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a hollow shelloreaso provided with vertieallyslotted end plates and flanges forming straight-edges at the sides, two rollers having their extremities provided with pivots engaging said slots, springs engaging the pivots'and normally holding them at their lowest limit of movement within the slots, and an adjustable pointer slidingly attached to the end of the case and extensible in the direction of movement, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a frame consisting of end plates suitably connected, of rollers pivoted in the end plates, and ad justable pointers slidingly attached to the end plates and extensible in the direct-ion of the framcs movement, substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a hollow shell or case provided with vertically slotted end plates, of rollers provided with pivots located in said slots, springs engaging the pivots and normally holding them at their lowest limit of movement within the slots, and brakestrips secured to the inner surface of the case and adapted to engage the rollers as the case is pressed downward, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

FORREST M. PRIESTLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. MoCoNNELL, G. J. ROLLANDET. 

